Buzzcocks: Live at Shepherds Bush Empire 2003

Although exhilarating in bite-sized doses, wall-to-wall three-chord punk can grow a bit tiresome over a 96-minute concert, even with the Buzzcocks, one of the best of the prototypical punk bands from the mid-to-late 1970s, captured live in this 2003 concert at London's Shepherds Bush Empire. Fronted by original members Pete Shelley and Steve Diggle on guitars and vocals, backed by Tony Barber on bass and Philip Barber on drums, the quartet take the stage for a blistering (if somewhat repetitive-sounding) 32-song set (drawn from over a quarter century's worth of releases, and featuring half the songs off their 2003 eponymous CD), with highlights including the early hits “Boredom,” “Fast Cars,” “You Say You Don't Love Me,” and “Ever Fallen in Love With Someone (You Shouldn't Have Fallen in Love With).” Disappointingly, none of the synthesizer-driven songs from the Buzzcocks' 1999 release Modern are performed here (which would have added a touch of variety). Presented in reasonably clear Dolby Digital 5.1, the disc also boasts a 47-minute interview with Shelley and Diggle, an 18-minute behind-the-scenes of a Paris video shoot, a sound check, tour photo and poster montages, and a text bio. A strong optional purchase. Aud: P. (R. Pitman)